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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Divert: Definition, Usage & Real-Life Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：redirect (divert)

divert 🔊

/daɪˈvɜːt/

vt.

To make something or someone change direction or go a different way.

redirect 🔊

➕

/ˌriːdɪˈrekt/

vt.

To cause something to change its course or destination.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'divertere' (to turn in different directions), from 'di-' (apart) + '-vert' (to turn).

💡 Mnemonic

Divers drive to divert attention. Think of turning (*vert*) apart (*di-*) from the main path.

📖 Example

Due to the accident, police had to divert all traffic to the side streets. 🔊 Following the collision, authorities rerouted all vehicles onto adjacent roads.

🔗 Collocations

divert traffic – to reroute vehicles away from a particular road

divert funds – to redirect money from one purpose to another

divert a river – to change the course of a waterway

🔄 Synonyms

reroute (vt.) – to send along a different path

deflect (vt.) – to cause something to change direction by interposing something

avert (vt.) – to turn away or prevent something undesirable

🚫 Antonyms

channel (vt.) – to direct along a particular course

direct (vt.) – to aim or guide in a straight course

guide (vt.) – to show the way by leading

🌱 Derivatives

diversion (n.) – an instance of turning something aside from its course; a distraction

diverting (adj.) – entertaining or amusing

📖 Cultural Story

Entered English via Old French 'divertir' meaning 'to turn aside'. Originally used in military and physical contexts for turning resources or troops, its meaning expanded to include entertainment ('to turn the mind').

Meaning 2：entertain (divert)

divert 🔊

/daɪˈvɜːt/

vt.

To entertain someone and take their attention away from something boring or worrying.

entertain 🔊

➕

/ˌentəˈteɪn/

vt.

To provide amusement or distraction for someone.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The clown's silly performance helped to divert the children while they waited at the doctor's office. 🔊 The amusing antics of the clown successfully kept the children's minds off their anxiety in the waiting room.

🔗 Collocations

divert attention – to distract someone from noticing something

divert oneself – to amuse or occupy oneself pleasantly

divert suspicion – to mislead others to prevent them from suspecting you

🔄 Synonyms

amuse (vt.) – to cause someone to find something funny or entertaining

distract (vt.) – to prevent someone from giving full attention to something

entertain (vt.) – to provide enjoyment for someone

🚫 Antonyms

bore (vt.) – to make someone feel weary and uninterested

focus (vt.) – to concentrate attention or effort on something

depress (vt.) – to cause someone to feel dispirited